Older animals are often overlooked in shelters across the country. This a huge loss for animals and humans. Older pets make excellent companions.

Pets are defined as "older" when they've reached approximately two-thirds of their life expectancy. A standard poodle, for example, has an average lifespan of 12 years. So at 8, he or she is ready to become a card-carrying member of the AARP — that's the American Association of Retired Pets.

One major advantage of bringing a mature pet into your home is that you already know its size, temperament and personality. Puppies and kittens may be cute, but they require lots of supervision and training. With a mature pet, that's one less thing to worry about when helping them adapt to their new home.